Chase ends in death

Published 12:00 am, Friday, December 3, 2010

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Law enforcement investigates the scene of a shooting on IH-10 west near Boerne, Texas after a man set fire to a house in San Antonio and fled west on the interstate on a motorcycle. Police from San Antonio and Boerne shot the man who allegedly had a gun.

Law enforcement investigates the scene of a shooting on IH-10 west near Boerne, Texas after a man set fire to a house in San Antonio and fled west on the interstate on a motorcycle. Police from San Antonio and

Traffic backs up on IH-10 west near Boerne after a man was shot to death by police on the interstate after he set fire to a house in San Antonio and then fled

Traffic backs up on IH-10 west near Boerne after a man was shot to death by police on the interstate after he set fire to a house in San Antonio and then fled

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Law enforcement investigates the scene of a shooting on IH-10 west near Boerne, Texas after a man set fire to a house in San Antonio and fled west on the interstate on a motorcycle. Police from San Antonio and Boerne shot the man who allegedly had a gun.

Law enforcement investigates the scene of a shooting on IH-10 west near Boerne, Texas after a man set fire to a house in San Antonio and fled west on the interstate on a motorcycle. Police from San Antonio and

Authorities shot and killed an armed motorcyclist Thursday morning after he led them on a chase that began at a home he set afire on the Northwest Side and ended along Interstate 10 in Boerne, officials said.

With a handgun periodically tucked under his chin, Tavan Cullum, 31, led police on a tense, low-speed chase up the highway at speeds between 30 and 40 mph as San Antonio and then Boerne police officers followed closely, authorities said.

As the procession crept up the interstate, Boerne residents made their way to work and school buses rumbled toward nearby campuses — and officers rushed to close exits, Boerne Police Chief Gary Miller said.

Highway traffic still was zooming past them east of Ranger Creek Road when Cullum jumped off his motorcycle and jogged alongside it. He then dropped the motorcycle and pointed his weapon at officers who had emerged from their cars and were chasing him on foot, officials said.

Both SAPD and Boerne officers opened fire in response, striking Cullum several times San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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The shooting prompted the closure of a three-mile stretch of westbound lanes of the highway between exits 537 and 540 until 1:30 p.m.

“The cooperation between San Antonio police and Boerne police was textbook,” McManus said, noting that pursuing officers made a seamless transition as Cullum crossed from one jurisdiction to another. “I've never seen it handled better.”

The chase began after Cullum set fire to his parents' house in the 11200 block of Whisper Willow around 6:30 a.m. before fleeing the scene with police in pursuit, authorities said.

Witnesses reported seeing him on the roof of the two-story home brandishing a samurai sword and a long gun — either a rifle or a shotgun — as flames and smoke shot out of a second story window moments before he fled on a motorcycle.

Cullum apparently discarded the gun he held on the roof before the chase, McManus said.

The man fled up Interstate 10 while police followed in patrol cars and a helicopter.

The damaged home's residents were unharmed and standing outside by the time firefighters arrived, Capt. Stephen Ruston said. He said firefighters contained the blaze within about 10 minutes of their arrival and neighbors were not threatened.

The SAPD shooting team, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Boerne police all are investigating the incident, police said. Both San Antonio officers, one a probationary officer and the other a 12-year veteran, will be placed on administrative duty, police said.